
Pass ^\1 i< 
Book .13 '- 



SERMON, 

ON THE 

FREEDOM AND HAPPU>[ESS 

I- 

OF THE 

United States of America, 

PREACHED IN CARLISLE, ON THE 5TH OCT. 1794. 

AND PUBLISHED AT THE REQUEST OF TH£ OFFICE'R3 

OF THE PHILADELPHIA AND LANCASTEi^ 

TROOPS OF LIGHT HORSE, 

BY ROBERT DAVIDSON, D. D, 

PASTOR OF THE PRES fi Y TERI A JI CHURCH IN CAR- 
LISLE, AND ONE OF TifE PROFESSORS I >f 
DICKINSON COLLEGE, 



Pif ILADELPHIA: 

■S.INTED EY SAMUEL II. SMITH FOR ROBERT 
CAMPBELL. 



Jf.DCC.XCiy. 



No 




A SERMON, 'dc. 



ff An4 what one Nation in the Earth is like thy 
People, even like Ifrael ?'* 

If. SAMUEL, vii, 23, 

f-lp 

X O take a comparative view of the 

nations of 'the earth, and learn in what 
refpeds fome are happier than others ; and 
to examine what are the fources of national 
profperity, and the true foundations of -the 
ftrength and permanency of ftates ; mud 
be profitable at any time, and efpecially 
proper at the prefent crifis. It is with this 
view the words now read have been chofen. 
And let none fay, that we are carried 
away by the fpirit of the times, to fubflitute 
mere political harrangues in the place of the 
Gofpel of Chrift : for, as I obferved, on a 
former occalion*, the affairs qf ftate, the 
A 2 manage- 

* In a Sermon preached on the preceding Lord's dayi 

from Proverbs, xiv. 34. Righteoufnefs exalteth 4 

pationj but fiu is a reproach to any people. 



( 4 ) 

ilianagement of public concerns, and the du- 
ties of citizens are not to be confideredas 
topics foreign to the gofpel, but the con- 
trary ; becaufe the gofpel views man in 
every condition in which man can be plac- 
ed, — ^and efpecially as a member of fociety* 
I fhall not, therefore, need to apologife for 
the fentiments contained in the following; 
difcourfe; fmce, in delivering them, efpe- 
cially in prefent circumftances, I confider 
myfelf only doing cojifcientioufly the du- 
ties of my office. 

But not to wafte your time unneceffarily^ 
— let us come to the fubjecl now propofed 
to be confidered. 

David, the pious king of Ifrael, had been 
conducted from the humble walks of a 
paftoral life, to the exalted flation of a 
throne; and as he had been conduced to 
it, fo he was firmly eftablifhed in it. Nozv 
it came to piifs^ as we read in the firfl verfe 
of this chapter, that when the king fat in 
his hou/e, and the Lord had giveu him reji 
round about from nil his enemies ; meditating 
devoutly on all the great goodnefs of God 
to himfelf and the nation ; he thought in 
his heart, that he ought to make prepara- 
tions for building a temple to the honour 

of 



( 5 ) 

t)f his God. And the Lord fent the pro- 
phet, Nathan, to afliire him, that he was 
pleafed with his pious defign, and to en- 
courage hina to perfevere. So we read, 
{in the 8th verfe). Ngzv therefore Jo JJ^alt 
thou fay unto my fervant David^ Thus faith 
ihe Lord of Hofts^ 1 took thee from following 
the Jheep^ to be ruler over my people^ Ifrael. 
And I ivas with thee whitherfoever thou 
went eft ^ aud have cut off all thine enemies out 
of thy fight^ and have made thee a great 
vame^ like unto the name of the great men that 
are in the earth. He was ordered alfo to 
affure him of God's future goodnefs to his 
family, from which v^^as to arife, in the ful- 
nefs of time, that great Deliverer whofe 
throne was to be eflablifhed for ever. Af- 
ter thefle affurances, which filled the heart 
of this great man with a fubiime joy, he went 
iiu, it is faid, and fat before the Lord^ and 
there poured out the gratitude of his fouI» 
in the language here recorded. He ad- 
mires the goodnefs of God, in raifing him 
to a ftation fo very eminent ; in faving him 
from internal enemies, who had repeatedly 
attempted to diftradl his government ; in 
vanquifhing his external foes on every 
liand ; in giving him peace, in which he 

appears 



( 6 ) 

iappears to have greatly delighted, though 
he had been an illuftrious warrior ; and 
thus aflfording him an opportunity of at- 
tending to the internal concerns of the 
ftate and his people's happinefs. And 
while he revolved in his mind the many 
indubitable inftances of Divine Providence 
towards the nation, and the happy circuili- 
flances in Avhich they were now placed ; 
looking around him from his exalted fla- 
tion on the fmiling fcenes of profperity on 
every hand, and the ineffable comforts to 
be derived from a ftat<; of peace and fecu- 
rity ; — having a heart capable of ardently 
defiring and greatly delighting in the feli- 
city of thofe committed to his care ; — he 
utters, among many other expreffions, the 
words of our prefent text, — And what one 
nation in the earth is like thy people ^ 

Ip We m.-ly here, in the jJrV/i? place, ctin-^ 
fider a little the rea'fons on which thii 
cxprelTion is founded, or in what refpe(f)s 
the people here fpoken of, were favoured 
above the other nation^uDf the earth, 

IT. This will prepare the way for our 
making fome obfervations, in the fecond 
place, on the great goodnefs of God to our 
own iUte and nation in particular ; Qur 

hyjh 



( 7 ) 

feigh and many privileges, the gratitude due 
from us to God for them ; arid the wife 
improvement which we ought to make of 
them. 

I. Let us, then, in the firft place, make 
a few general obfervations on the ftate of 
the Jewifh people, previoufly to and at the 
time when thefe words were fpoken ; which 
will be a fuitable preparation for the re- 
marks that are intended to follow. 

The pofterity of Abraham have been a 
people mod remarkably under the diredion 
of Divine Providence, ever {ince their ori- 
gin : and notwithflanding the many revo- 
lutions which they have experienced, a 
remnant of them is ftill preferved diflin<fl 
from all other nations ; and no doubt for 
fome important events yet to come, in 
which they are to be deeply interefted. 
The founder of this nation was a man of a 
moft excellent charader, eminent for his 
faith and piety ; he was called out from, 
the midfl: of idolators, that of him might 
be made a great nation; among whom the 
knowledge of the true God was to be pre- 
ferved, 'till the times of the Mefllah ; when 
|his knowledge and the news of falvation 

(hould 



( 8 ) 

fhould be diffiifed over the face of the whok 
earth. 

The hiftory of the Jewifli nation, if 
read with fuitable views, and efpecially in 
order to gain an acquaintance with the ways 
of Gad to men^ would be one of the moft 
inftrudive that could merit our attention. 

Indeed the ftudy of hiflory in general, 
if properly conduded, tends greatly to edi- 
fication. In order to derive the greateft 
profit from it, we ought to mark the courfe 
of the divine difpenfations,— in the happy 
confequences of national virtues, and the 
awful effects of national vices ; — the rife 
and progrefs of ftates and kingdoms ; their 
fhort or long duration, according as folly or 
wifdom fat at the helm of their public af- 
fairs ; their enjoyment or lofs of liberty ; 
their ruling over, or becoming fubjecl to 
neighbouring nations ; and the like ;— 
in thefe things, I fay, we fliould mark the 
courfe of God's Providence ; we fhould fee 
the operations of a divine hand ; and then we 
fhallreadawell-writtenhirtoryof any nation, 
efpecially that of the Jews, with high fatis- 
fadion and advantage. But if we read thofe 
hiftories only to gain an acquaintance with 

a few 



{> 9 J 

a few of the mcfre remarkable events, de- 
tached and feparate ; and if we endeavour 
to perfuade ourfelves, that all human affairs 
are under the guidance of blind chance, 
and tending to no conclufion for the dif- 
play of the divine juftice and goodnefs ;-— 
we (hail find our knowledge fruitlefs, and 
all our refearches vain. 

The mind of man is fo formed by its 
adorable! and wife author, that it wifhes tof 
underftand the final caufe of every thing 
which it contemplates and admires. In 
viewing the works of nature^ fo many 
ftriking proofs of defign and benevolence- 
prefent themfeves to tlie mind, as foon a^ 
the reafoning powers begin to unfold 
themfelves, that even children wiih to be 
inftruded in thefe things, to trace a chain 
of caufes and effeds, and to know why 
certain things are fo and io, and not either- 
wife. We fee the moft beautiful harmony 
fubfifting from age to age, among the hea- 
venly bodies ; however various in fize and 
fituation, and how complicated foever their 
motions and revolutions. We look for, 
and are pleafed to find, in every province 
of nature in this lower world, evident 
B ;iia,j:J5S 



( >o ) 

fftatts alfo of wifdom aird goodnefs. A 
|)Ower that is irreliftible, under the direc- 
tion of infinite wifdom, appears to be con- 
ftantly operating, on every hand. It feems 
to be doing the utmoft violence to our 
teafon, to endeavour to perfuade our- 
lelves, that there is no wife defign in the 
conftitution of nature, and the arrange- 
ment of its various parts. 

And is it not doing equal violence to 
our rational nature, to fuppofe that the 
events of this lower world are under no 
wife diredion. Or, that there is no Pro- 
vidence over /^^ ^t^/W (9/'w^«/* Even the 
Romans of old, who built the mofl: aflo- 
nifhing fabric of empire that ever the 
w6rld beheld, evidently acknowledged, ef- 
pecially in tlieir better days, that their 
tepublic was under the divine diredion^ 
and l&ould ftand no longer than it was 
the will of the Supreme Deity, to preferve: 
k by his guardian care. They feem grate- 
fully to have afcribed their viiflories to an 
over-ruling power. The fentiments of 
their mofl: celebrated orator, patriot, and 
philofophdr, on this fubje^f^, have always 
been greatly admired. 

As 



( » ) 

As a Divine Providence, then, muft be 
acknowledged over the affairs oT men ; and 
fomething may be learned on this fubjed 
even from the light of nature^ and the ge- 
neral voice of nations ; — how thankful 
fhould we be for the light of revelation^ by 
which our views are fo greatly enlarged, 
and our thoughts are carried back to the 
creation and forward to the confummatiom 
of all things ! 

But what we have more particularly in 
view, at prefent, is the interefting hiftory 
of the Jeivifh nation. And we fay that 
this is above all others full of inftrucllon, 
becaufe the defigns of Providence to- 
wards them have been more fully unfold-r 
cd to us, than his deiigns towards any 
other people. Had we only the hiflory 
of that nation, in the way in which hif- 
tories are commonly written,^ — a fplendid 
enumeration of the mofi: fhining fads and 
revolutions ; — and efpecially laboured de- 
fcriptions of battles, and high enccrmiums 
on the charaders and exploits of Mofes, 
Jofhua, and other leaders ;— -with little of 
the doings of the Lordy and the interpo- 
fitions of his hand ;-^^had we, I fay, this 
B % hiftory, 



( 12 ) 

hlftory, tlius compofed in the comrnon 
way, and were we only amufed with the 
ingenious remarks of hiftorians, on the 
operation of mere natural caufes ; we 
could not read it with fo much advantage 
as we now can ; nor could we, in a fatis- 
faclory manner, account for the many 
changes through which that nation has 
been made to pafs. This people were 
called the people of the Lord, and he was 
pleafed to ftiie himfelf the God of Abra- 
ham, Ifaac, and Jacob. But we muft not 
fuppofe, that they had the fame ideas of 
the government of the world, which many 
other nations feem to have had, /. e. that 
every nation or flate had fome particulai 
Divinity pre fading over it, and attending 
to its concerns alone. For the reprefen- 
tations which are every where given of" 
God, ip.the Jewifh writings, lead us to 
conceive pf him as the Creator, Preferver^ 
and Lord of heaven and earth; as having 
all nations under his diredion ; and em- 
ploying all the fhining armies of heaven 
as his minifters, in the government of this 
lower world. — Now, as this people had fo 
much light and knowledge, refpeding 
■ ' ' God 



( '3 ) 

,<&od and his providence, more tharj 
others around them had ; this fhows the 
force and propriety of the words of David, 

when he faid, " JVhat one nation in the 

earth is like thy people^ even Ifraelf It 
mufl: be confidered as an exalted pri- 
vilege, indeed, to have the knowledge 
of the true God, and of the manner in 
-which he is to be worlhipped. This his 
chofen people had ; while mankind in 
general around them were bowing dowi-j 
before flocks and ftones, and paying a 
fuperftitious adoration to falfe and ima- 
ginary objeds of worfhip. The ideas 
which they had of the Supreme Being, of 
his Providence and government of the 
world, are fully fet forth in thofe hymns 
of praife, which were compofed prin- 
cipally by this pious King, and which alj 
men of tafte and piety have ever ad- 
mired. They had alfo the moral law, 
written by the finger of God himfelf, 
which gives a full view of all thofe duties 
v;hich we owe to God and to one another. 
For the fum of the commandments is, 
To love the Lord our God with all our hearts^ 
and our neighbour as our/elves. They had 

alTurance^ 



C M ) 

afiufances not only of the juftice, but alfa 
of the mercy of God through a Redeemer, 
who is flow to anger, and fometimes fpares 
finners for many years, and who forgives 
iniquity, tranfgrelTion, and fm, to all thofe 
who truly repent. They had the cleareil 
proofs of his mercy ; for he had often 
turned away his anger from them, and 
exaffed of them lefs than their iniquities 
dejcrved. He gave them the moil: en- 
couraging promifes of his protedion, as 
well as the clearefl: views of the miferies 
that would come upon them, as a nation, 
if they departed from him, and became 
immoral and profane. He placed them 
in the land which he had promifed to 
fheir fathers, — a land, which, to ufe the 
fcripture-phrafe expreffive of the greatefl 
plenty, flozved with milk and honey. Out 
pf this land he expelled thofe nations, 
which by their enormous wickednefs had 
t)ecome ripe for ruin, that he might plant 
his people in their ftead. 

To fum up all in a few words, — the 
Jewifh nation were, at the time here al- 
luded to, in an independent and flourilh- 
ing condition ; having the light of the 

knowledge 



( is ) 

knowledge of the true God fhlning upoiii 
them ; having alfo excellent laws for the 
rule of their condud ; and being in a ftate 
of peace,— having no enemies within the 
ftate that were difaifected to its befl: inte- 
refls, nor any without, to be feared ; while 
a pious and prudent man, of extraordinary 
abilities, and whofe life Providence had 
watched over and preferved through many 
a fcene of trial and danger, was placed at 
the head of the nation, and reigned in the 
hearts of his people. 

When thefe feveral things are taken, 
into conhderation, which time will only 
allow us at prefent briefly to mention, we 
fee how much fuperior, in point of pri- 
vileges, the Jewifh nation was, to all the 
other nations around them. 

II. Let us now, in the Jecond place, con- 
fide? the great goodnefs of the Divine Be- 
ing to our ftate and nation in particular ;— 
our high privileges ; the gratitude which 
we owe to God for them ; and the wiie 
improvement which we ought to make of 
them. 

We might draw a parallel between our, 
conddtion aiwd that of the nation fpoken of 

iQ 



in the text, in a variety of pOTticuIarfr. A 
perfed lefemblance, indeed, of the cir- 
Gumflances of any two nations is not to be 
cxpeifted ; and yet it may be fufficiently 
ilriking to merit attention. 

The celebrated navigator who firfl: dif- 
covered this continent was doiibtlefs under 
the guidance of heaven ; and the difco-^ 
very was preparatory to the wonderful 
events that were to follow. This part of 
the New World prefented itfelf as a place 
of refuge for thofe who wifhed to enjoy 
religious and civil freedom^ unmolefled, 
and to the greateft extent. They hoped 
that here they could worfliip God accord- 
ing to their confciences, and would be at 
a fecure diftance from all the infults of 
tyranny. The infant fettlements, which 
Providence defigned as the nurferies of a 
vaft republic, in due time to arife, gra- 
dually extended themfelves along the 
Ihores of the ocean, and into the interior 
parts of the continent. Their growtli 
was rapid and aftonifhing ; they were in 
general a fober, indullrious, and pious 
people ; and the governor of nations prof- 
pcred them. The fame of the privileges 

here 



( »7 5 

here to be enjoyed, and of the falubrity oiF 
the air, and fertility of the foil, drew hither 
great numbers from different nations of the 

OLD WORLD. 

But, alas ! how fubjed to change are all 
human affairs ; and by what a precarious 
tenure are thefe poffeflfions held and en- 
joyed ! Attempts were made to deprive us 
of tjhe privUeges which we fo highly 
prized ; and a diftant power, which we 
were wont to call the Parent nation, in- 
lifted on the right of making laws to bind us 
in all cafes whatfoever. We could not 
conceive in what other language, the moft 
alfolute tyranny could have clothed its man- 
dates and its menaces. We refolved to re- 
fufe a fubmilTion to the moft unequal and 
iniquitous laws ; for we would not acknow- 
ledge the power, that was affumed, to be 
ia lawful one ; but, on the contrary, a 
violation of our chartered rights. Hence 
arofe an obftinate and bloody conteft. 

To take a view of this in its rife, progrefs, 

and termination, would be a work of much 

time ; fuffice it to obferve, that being con-. 

Meat of the juftice of our caufe, we com- 

C mi:t^4 



( i5 ) 

itikied ourfelves into his hand, wlid dK- 
pofeth of ftates and kingdoms at his plea:- 
fure; \V8 prayed to him, and made a di- 
ligent ufe of the mofl proper means of felf- 
defence. And the arm of the Lord ap- 
peared evidently ftretched forth for our 
prefervation : And in nothing did his care 
more fully manifeft itfelf, than in railing 
up and preferving thofe illuftri6us men, 
of whom it may be faid, as is here faid of 
David, that he made unto them a ^reat 
jtaifie':" ^The malice of difafFedion, the 
deeip^aid fchemes of treachery, artd even 
all the open attacks of courz^ge, aimed at 
our fubjugation, were wholly disappointed. 
Many powerful friends were raifed up for 
us, and our independence, (to obtain which 
io much blood and treafure had been ex- 
pended ) was at laft acknowledged. The 
foundations of a free government being 
thus laid, and the moft favourable oppor- 
tunity afforded, which appears ever to have 
been given to any of the fons of men, of 
eftablilhing the freefl: and beft form of 
civil government, which could be learned 
fiOHa the wifdom and experience of ages, — ' 

Gonftitutions 



( "9 ) 

jconftitutlons for the- feveral ftates, and ^ 
general one for the up-ion and interefl of 
tiie whole combined, were formed, and re- 
gularly and folemnly adopted. 

This is only an outlhie of the pidlure, 
haflily (ketched : To give it all the variety 
of fhades and colouring, neceffary to com-r 
plete it, would be rather the bulinefs of the 
niflorian than the divine. 

Thefe things are mentioned, to fhew, 
that when we compare our condition with 
that of other riations, we may with great 
propriety borrow and apply the words of 
the text, and lay, — f'f^bat one nation in the 
earth is like the American people. Hiftory 
4oes inot inform us of any people v/ho had 
the fame favourable opportunities, that we 
have had, of choofing that form of govern- 
ment which we might think beft, and mofl 
c:onducive to our liappinefs. What was 
good in others, we were at liberty to adopt j 
what w^s bad, to rejed. This opportu- 
nity we hope has not been neglecled. 
And we live, and have lived and profpered 
for fome time, under a government which, 
w\}h all the imperfedions that can in any 
C 2 juftic^ 



( w ) 

juftice be laid to ks charge, is one of the 
moil free and excellent under the fun. 
Nothing is wanting to make it all that we 
could wifh it to be, and to give us the 
pleahng hope of its liability and perma- 
nency, but more wifdom^ virtue^ and reli- 
gion^ among the citizens at large. This is a 
government, which all the real friends of 
freedom in the old world appear to ad- 
mire ; and under the wings of which the 
opprefled of every nation would wifh to 
take refuge. Here is liberty and equality^ 
according to the jufl: acceptation of thofe fa- 
vourite terms ; liberty^ civil and religious, 
to the utmpft extent that they can be, where 
there is any government at all ; and an '• 
equality of rights^ or proviiion made for the 
equal protedion of the lives and properties 
of all. That all men fhould be equal, as 
to abilities, ftation, authority, and wealth, 
is abfolutely, in the prefent ftate of things, 
impofiible. But where every citizen has 
a voice in making the laws, or in choofing 
thofe who make them, and is equally un- 
der their protec'^ion, — there is equality. 
As to religious liberty efpecially, we 



/ 

{ 21 ) 

may indeed fay, IVhat nation in the earth 
i$ like the American people ? For every man 
may entertain what opinions he thinks 
right, and worfhip God in what manner he 
thinks beft, without being excluded from 
any office, to which he has a profped of 
rifing, on account of his creed or religious 
fentiments. This is furely liberty, in the 
utmoft latitude that any man could deiire. 

If rulers abufe their truil, or aim at op- 
preffion, they are removeable in a regular 
and conflitutional way ; and better men 
can be put in their places, when the power 
reverts into the hands of the people, at the 
dated periods. This way of redreffing 
grievances is infinitely preferable to that 
of tumults and infurredions. Unhappy 
the people who can have no change in 
their government but what they muft obr« 
tain by the fword ! 

The advantages ariling from our fitua- 
tion, and the produdions of the foil, in 
the various climates comprehended within 
our boundary line, might, if this were the 
proper time and place, be fully defcribed. 
Aiid it would appear, that no other nation ' 

on 



on earth may be compared with this, in 
thefe refpeds. What unfpeakable advan- 
tages have we for a gainful commerce with 
the whole world ! At what a happy dif- 
tance are we placed, from the fierce and 
ambitious nations of Europe ! 

We hear of a great people contending 
for liberty. We hear of a nation in armSy 
combatting a formidable hoft of enemies, 
to fecure their freedom and independence. 
But oh ! what fcene§ of horror, — what fields 
of defolation and blood,-r-prefent them- 
felves to our imagination, when we endea- 
'vour to form an idea of the real prefent 
ilate of Europe ! And how happy are we, 
to be in a ftate of neutrality and peace ! 
liov/ much fhould we admire, that wifdoni 
and firmnefs that have preferved us in 
fuch a fiate ; amidft fo many wicked en- 
deavours to involve us in the calamities 
pi war ! 

And has not Science darted her benign 
rays, into the remoteft parts of thefe United 
States ? Seminaries of learning are rifmg 
into reputation on every hand ; and under 
the fofiering care of government will be 

aiiioiig 



( as } 

Morig the chief means of ^tdferving ou# 
libeirties. The fons of fcience, patticu-t 
laxly thofe educated in this place*, will,' 
vve hope, never be feen at the ftandard ot 
anarchy, or on the fide of defpotifm. 

And' as to Religion, the choiceft bl ef- 
fing of heaven to men^ and without which 
no nation can be truly hapfpy ; — is fhe not 
left at liberty, to difplay to every advan- 
tage heir celeftial charms, and to exert her 
renovating powers on the thind^ of men, 
free both from the aids i»nd the reftraints 
of the civil arm ? What wotild the people 
of thefe States have or wifh for more? 
Are iiot theft the v6ry objects for which 
our patriots bled ? And to obtain which 
the gteatefl facrifices have been made by 
all ranks of citizens ? 

While thus we view the faiif fid6 of 
things, and realize Oiir many privileges, 
We cannot but rejoice and be thankful. 

Hymm 



* Dickinfon College, in Carlifle, has fent forth 
at leaft eighty graduates, fince its ereftion ; and pro- 
tnifes to be an extenfive blefling to the Wcfterfir 
Country! if fupported by a generous public. 



( 24 ) 

Hymns of praife fhould every where h€ 
fung to the Eternal King, who fought ioi 
us our battles, and gave us liberty and 
|>eace. 

But when I look around me, and fee 
multitudes of mtw in the garb of foldiers, 
and handling the inftruments of war, — X 
cannot but feel the moft painful emotions, 
and aflc, — IVhat theje things mean ? Has 
fome foreign defpot invaded our territo- 
ries with formidable armies ? Are the fa- 
vages of the wildernefs committing de- 
vacations far and wide upon a defenceT^fs 
frontier, having routed the army fent to 
fubdue them ? Or is there any other 
fimilar caufe of, thefe warlike preparati- 
ons ? "No! (I am anfwered) Thefe 
preparation^ are for a very different pur- 
pofe. Thev are to teach thofe who will 
not otherwife be taught, — that we ought 
all to be obedient to lawful authority; 
that we ought to refpecl the government 
which ourfelves have made, and whofe 
protection we have enjoyed ; that in a 
pure republic the will of the majority 
mufl: be fubmitted to, and no lawlefs 

gttempts 



( 25 ) 

attempts made to weaken the energy bf 
good government." And is it polixb'e, 
that all our citizens have not gocd fenfe 
enough to know thefe plain and impor- 
tant truths, without fuch a formidable 
force to teach them ? It feems not. To 
bUr grief and fhame it muft be told. 
But upon this difgraceful part of our 
hiftory I fhall not dwell at piefent : it is 
a painful tatk ! and we have heard from 
the proper authority the real flate of our 
affairs. But oh! what heart, that is not 
hardened into an entire infenfibihty, dees 
not bleed at the thought of an unpro- 
voked injurreclion^ by fome of our de- 
luded fellow-citizens, againft the mildeft 
and freeft government under heaven \ 
What friend of pea:e and real liberty 
does not drop a tear over the fo'lly of his 
brethren ! Shall we pity them, 'and enu- 
merate their grievances, as an apology 
for their condud ? If they have any 
grievances, what are they ? and are they 
fuch as can juftify an appeal to arms ? 
No man in his fober fenfes can fay any 

fuch 
D 



( i6 ) 

fuch thing. Can it be a grievance to 
fupport good government ? Surely it 
cannot. Unlefs government Itfelf be a 
grievance ; which is perhaps indeed the 
opinion of not a few'. 

But let us, my friends, better taught., 
rejoice in the privileges which we poffefs, 
and do every thing that is required of us, 
in our fe^'eral places, for their fecurity ; 
knowing that a regular adm'niflration of 
jullice is infinitely preferable to anarchy ; 
and that it is a folemn and important 
duty, to fubmit to laws, which have 
had every fandion that they ought to 
have, — for the public good and indivi- 
dual fafety. 

It is for the fupport of the laws of 
their country, I am well perfuaded, and 
for no other objev5\, that fo many of our 
brethren have voluntarily armed them- 
felves on the prefent occalion. 

To you, ray friends, who are prefent 
with us at this time, in the charader of 
Ciii-zen- Soldiers, allow me the liberty of 
a (hort addrefs ; and with this I fliall 
conclude. 

You 



( 27 ) 

You are in the pre fence of Him who 
knoweth all hearts ; and I trufl you arc 
confcious to yourfelves, that you have af- 
fumed your prefent charader, not from the 
defire ofwar, but the love of peace. Wc 
cannot but admire your patriotifm and zeal. 
You have left your families, your friends, 
and all the comforts of the domedij 

fcene, to endure the hardfliips of a 

camp, — to expofe your health to the in- 
clemencies of the air *, — and your lives, 
if required, to the malice of difaffeiflion ! 
It is thus you will learn, as many as hava 
not learned already, fomething of the 
aflonifhing hardfhips v/hich the brave de- 
fenders of our country endured, for ft-vcn 
long years : and you will highly prize, 
and contend for, that liberty which was 
D 2 purchafed 

* At this time were encamped, on the Commons of 
Carlifle, many gentlemen from the city of Philadel- 
phia, and elfewhere, who had left behind them large 
families, and all the comforts of lifs, which an inde- 
pendent fortune could give ; and many of them fuch as 
worthily filled the higheft departments in fociety. To 
fee fuch men lying upon a bed of ftraw, and doing 
the duties of foldiers, was truly aftoniihing. What 
|;eal for liberty and good governjncat did this telUfy I 



( 28 ) 

purchafed at fo dear a price. You have 
the example of oar beloved President, 
and other exalted charaders, to animate 
yoa to your daty. In obeying his di- 
reclions, and copying his many ftiining 
virtues, you will find the path to lafting 
honour. Your de:ermined firmnefs and 
unannnity will caufe difcord to hide her 
guilty head. Order and obedience will 
be reflored, and the eiiufion of blood pre- 
vented. You are called to ac5i under the 
direclion and authority of Him *, who 
never expofed to danger a lingle life 
without neceihty ; and who graced his 
victories with that clemency which is the 
greateft ornament of true courage, and 
one of the fureil: tefls of magnanimity. 
And is not the caufe, in which you are en- 
gaged, fuch, that you may fafely pray to 
the omnipotent and juft Ruler of the 

world, 

* The Prefident of the United States, Governor 
Mifflin, and many other gentlemen of high rank, be- 
ing prefent, the Preacher was reflrained from faying 
as much as he could have wifhed on this fubjed, left 
the expreffion cf his real fenriir-ents night have ap« 
peared to fome the language of adulation. 



( 29 ) 

world, for his aid and proteaion? We 
are perfaaded it is : and would both fol- 
low you with our prayers, and befeech you 
to pray for yourfelves, and truft in him 
who is able to preferve you. Let no part 
of your condua refled difgrace upon 
your arms, or injure the good caufe ia 
which you are engaged. Be fober and 
temperate, — merciful and juft,— friendly 
to each other,— and firmly combined in 
the caufe of virtue, innocence, liberty, 
and law. 

And now may God dlfpofe the hearts 
of our fellow-citizens, every where, to 
the love of order, juftice, and peace! 
May he eftablifti good government among 
us! May he long preferve a life which 
appears fo neceffary for our public tran- 
quillity ; and preferve to this country her 
rights and privileges — while sun and Moorf 



SNDURE ! 



THE £ N O. 



